Marine charged with Govt House murder

The arraignment of Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Able Seaman Jevon Seymour on murder and attempted murder charges yesterday sparked deep emotions among his family and the family of his alleged victim.

The 35-year-old appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt and was charged with the April 28 murder of RBDF Petty Officer Percival Philip Perpall and the attempted murders of Calvin Hanna and Ellis Rahming at Government House.

Relatives of Petty Officer Philip Perpall, who was murdered at Government House, outside court yesterday.

A gunman, who investigators say is Seymour, opened fire on Perpall and his colleagues in the guard room at Government House, police said. However, Perpall was the only casualty.

Throngs of Seymour’s supporters shouted that he was innocent as armed officers lead him on the perp walk from the Nassau Street Police Station to the South Street Magistrates’ Court Complex.

Seymour was not required to enter a plea to the charges during his initial court appearance and was remanded into custody until June 20.

The decision by Ferguson-Pratt to permit Seymour to speak to 10 of his relatives inside the court drew a reaction from Perpall’s daughter.

Ferguson-Pratt said, “I am of the view that the serious charges he faces has nothing to do with the fact that he is somebody’s child.”

One of Perpall’s daughters shouted, “He could speak to his family but our daddy dead.”

The families clashed outside court as police took Seymour outside the building to the cell block, although there is a direct path to the lock up from the court.

The relatives got in each other’s faces and traded insults but police prevented the disagreement from escalating into physical violence.